How to ace a telephone interview

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Telephonic interviews have become a screening tool that precedes an on-site interview. It also means that it’s a process of elimination. Often candidates undermine the importance of a telephonic interview and end up being rejected by potential employers. Here are some ways to make sure that you excel in your endeavour and go through to the next stage.

The perks

The biggest advantage of a telephonic interview is that you don’t have to face the interviewer. You can be in your comfort zone and feel more relaxed and confident. Other perks include staying in bed, being in your comfy clothes and having an exhaustive list of answers to commonly asked interview questions. It all seems so easy. But too much comfort breeds a laid-back attitude, and it will have an adverse effect on your interview.

The mistakes

You can easily make cheat sheets and keep them handy during your interview. But it sounds scripted when you read from them. If you take your pre-hiring call in bed you might sound tired, uninterested and boring. Since there are no visual cues to guide the interviewer, they will pay extra attention to your replies and they can judge you on the basis of the slightest nuances in your communication skills.

Although the telephonic interview is a serious process and shouldn’t be taken lightly, don’t forget that it’s a conversation between two people. Don’t sound too serious or nervous. Portraying yourself as someone who is friendly and excited about the prospective job opportunity will make a positive impression. Smile as it makes your voice cheerful and welcoming. Your qualifications landed you the interview, now it’s time for you to show your charisma that will make you stand apart from the rest of the candidates. So smile and crack your phone interviews confidently.